Ball handling implement



Jan. 11, 1966 A. c. INGEBO BALL HANDLING IMPLEMENT Filed July 15, 1963 INVENTOR.

LVIN C INGEBO ZZ M M ATTORN EY United States Patent 3,228,693 BALL HANDLING IMILEMENT Alvin C. Ingebo, 1167 NE. 190th Place, Troutdale, Oreg. Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 295,026 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-129) This invention relates to a ball handling implement, and more particularly is concerned with an implement arranged for rolling a ball along a surface in guided movement.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a ball handling implement having a structural arrangement adapted for improved guiding of the ball along a horizontal surface.

A more particular object is to provide a device of the type described having means for engaging a ball to confine it for manipulation on a surface and means for releasing the ball when it is desired to project the latter away from the implement.

Another object is to provide a ball handling implement which is simplified in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly stated, the invention includes an elongated handle terminating at its forward end in a head mounted on surface engaging wheels. Associated with the head are ball engaging rollers adapted and arranged to guide the ball. Also associated with the head is a pivotal hoop adapted for rotation into and out of engagement with the ball and controlled by means supported on the handle within the reach of the operator for moving it into and out of its ball engaging position.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects will become apparent from the following specification and claims, considered together with the accom panying drawings, wherein the numerals of reference indicate like parts and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present ball handling implement;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the present ball handling implement has an elongated handle formed of telescoping portions and 12. By means of such telescoping portions the handle is adapted to be shortened for convenience in storage and handling but extended when the implement is intended for use. A tight frictional fit is provided between these telescoping portions in order that the portion 12 will remain fixed in either of its desired positions.

Handle portion 10 terminates integrally in a cross head 14 having rectangular bores 16 projecting from each end thereof. These apertures are slightly forwardly directed as best apparent in FIGURE 5.

Associated with the head 14 is a pair of oppositely projecting axles 18 the inner ends 20 of which are rectangular in cross section and adapted for reception in the apertures 16, Removable connection of the axles to the head is accomplished by set screws 22.

Each of the axles 18 has a double bend, FIGURE 3, forming a horizontal support portion 23 from which the inner ends 20 lead, a vertical standard portion 24, and a horizontal spindle portion 26. Surface engaging wheels 28 are supported on the spindles 26 to accomplish rolling surface support of the implement.

Rotatably supported on the support portions 23 of the 3,228,693 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 "ice shafts 18 are ball engaging rollers or wheels 30. These rollers have a beveled edge for flush surface engagement with a ball B. As stated hereinbefore, the shafts 18 are angled forwardly a slight amount which, together with the beveled construction of the wheels 30, serves to guide the ball in a straight path when pushed forwardly in front thereof.

Pivotally supported on the shaft 18 intermediate the head 14 and the rollers 30 are upright fingers 32 interconnected at their upper end by a rod 34. These fingers support a hoop 36 having the ends thereof connected integrally thereto. The hoop is adapted to encircle the ball B and confine the latter for rolling movement with the implement.

The pivotal support of the hoop 36 on the shaft 18 permits said hoop to be swung upwardly out of engagement with the ball, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. Means for pivoting the hoop between its two positions comprises a push-pull cable assembly 38 having a cable 40 connected at its lower end to the bar 34 and having its upper end terminating in a pull knob 42. The push-pull cable assembly is of sufficient length such that the knob 42 is far enough up the handle to be within the reach of the operator.

A foot member 44 is pivotally mounted on the handle portion 10 by a pivot pin 46 and is adapted to be lowered, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, to support the handle in an upwardly angled position when not in use. Thus, when the tool is temporarily idle, the foot 44 is lowered to support the handle in an easily accessible position.

In operation of the present device, the hoop 36 is first raised by pulling on knob 42 and the implement then brought into engagement with a ball. Thereupon, the knob 42 is pushed downwardly to lower the hoop around the ball. The ball, thus being confined, may be manipulated as necessary for placing it in readiness for projection, Thereupon, the hoop 36 is raised and the implement moved and manipulated to guide the ball in a desired path. If desired, the hoop 36 may remain in its lowered osition until just before release of the ball at the end of the projecting thrust.

It is possible to use the present device without the hoop mechanism since the angled disposition of the surfaces of the rollers 30 tend adequately to direct the ball and at the same time confine it somewhat in the implement. With the use of the hoop, however, it is easier to engage and position for projection.

The present implement, although useful for many kinds of games wherein a ball is to be rolled, is intended primarily for projecting bowling balls. Such implement allows persons who are not otherwise physically able to lift and swing such a ball, to execute the game of bowling.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A ball handling implement comprising a cross head, a rearwardly directed handle leading from said cross head, a pair of shafts projecting laterally in opposite directions from said head, surface engaging wheels on said shafts for wheeling said implement along a supporting surface, ball engaging rollers on said head for guiding the ball in rolling movement as it is pushed by said implement, a forwardly directed pivotal hoop on said head adapted removably to confine a ball forwardly of said head, and means supported on the handle and connected with the hoop for pivoting the latter.

head, and a push-pull cable assembly supported on the handle and connected to said hoop for pivoting the latter.

References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,263,602 11/1941 Whittle 273-129 X 2,435,855 2/1948 Von Pein 273129 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BALL HANDLING IMPLEMENT COMPRISING A CROSS HEAD, A REARWARDLY DIRECTED HANDLE LEADING FROM SAID CROSS HEAD, A PAIR OF SHAFTS PROJECTING LATERALLY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID HEAD, SURFACE ENGAGING WHEELS ON SAID SHAFTS FOR WHEELING SAID IMPLEMENT ALONG A SUPPORTING SURFACE, BALL ENGAGING ROLLERS ON SAID HEAD FOR GUIDING THE BALL IN ROLLING MOVEMENT AS IT IS PUSHED BY SAID IMPLEMENT, A FORWARDLY DIRECTED PIVOTAL HOOP ON SAID HEAD ADAPTED REMOVABLY TO CONFINE A BALL FORWARDLY OF SAID HEAD, AND MEANS SUPPORTED ON THE HANDLE AND CONNECTED WITH THE LOOP FOR PIVOTING THE LATTER. 